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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A quick - improvisational - spirited piece of music.






2. A musical composition that has a romantic or dreamy character with nocturnal associations.






3. A mild glissando between two notes for an expressive effect.






4. The element of music pertaining to time - played as a grouping of notes into accented and unaccented beats.






5. The manner in which tones are produced with regard to pitch.






6. The first tone of a scale also known as a keynote.






7. A musical style characterized as excessive - ornamental - and trivial.






8. The seventh note of the scale where there is a strong desire to resolve on the tonic.






9. When several strings are tuned to harmonically related pitches - all strings vibrate when only one of the strings is struck.






10. Quick repetition of the same note or the rapid alternation between two notes.






11. A musical theme given to a particular idea or main character of an opera.






12. A composition written for three to six voices. Beginning with the exposition - each voice enters at different times - creating counterpoint with one another.






13. The technique of altering the tone color of a single note or musical line by changing from one instrument to another in the middle of a note or line.






14. A musical composition written solely to improve technique. Often performed for artistic interest.






15. A loose collection of instrumental compositions.






16. A style of singing which is characterized by the easy and flowing tone of the composition.






17. The principal note of a triad.






18. The flats and sharps at the beginning of each staff line indicating the key of music the piece is to be played.






19. A short piano piece - often improvisational and intimate in character.






20. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.






21. Singing or chanting in unison without strict rhythm. Collected during the Reign of Pope Gregory VIII for psalms and other other parts of the church service.






22. The distance in pitch between two notes.






23. Made up of five horizontal parallel lines and the spaces between them on which musical notation is written.






24. The tonal characteristics determined by the relationship of the notes to the tone.






25. The opening section of a piece of music or movement.






26. Group of singers in a chorus.






27. Originally an improvised cadence by a soloist. Later it became a written out passage to display performance skills of an instrumentalist or performer.






28. A piece of music played at the end of a recital responding to the audiences enthusiastic reaction to the performance - shown by continuous applause.






29. The range of an instrumental or a vocal part.






30. A composition based on previous work. A common technique used in Medieval and Renaissance music.






31. A short or brief sonata.






32. Three notes played in the same amount of time as one or two beats.






33. A song or hymn celebrating Christmas.






34. Either of the two octave arrangements in modern music. The modes are either major or minor.






35. One of the two modes of the tonal system. Music written in major keys have a positive affirming character.






36. Primary theme or subject that is developed.






37. Short movement or interlude connecting the main parts of the composition.






38. A composition whose style is simple and idyllic; suggestive of rural scenes.






39. A symbol indicating the note is to be raised by one semitone.






40. One or more vocalists performing without an accompaniment.






41. Where the musical themes and melodies are developed - written in sonata form.






42. The structure of a piece of music.






43. A rhythmic succession of musical tones - a melody for instruments and voices.






44. Piece of instrumental music played between scenes in a play or opera.






45. A composition whose style is simple and idyllic; suggestive of rural scenes.






46. In sheet music - an instruction to repeat the beginning of the piece before stopping on the final chord.






47. Pertaining to the sonata form - a fast movement in triple time.






48. The expression the performer brings when playing his instrument.






49. A combination of two or more staves on which all the notes are vertically aligned and performed simultaneously in differing registers and instruments.






50. An instruction in sheet music to play softly. Abbreviated by a 'p'.







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